EV Digest 6536
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) EVLN(Companies go green to reduce planet imperiling emissions)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) EVLN(Chinese Scientists: Make Way for EVs)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) A run in with Wayland
by Jim Husted <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) Replacing the batteries in a Gen I Prius
by Ian Hooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) EVLN(EVs obsolete after electric ICE starter was introduced)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) EVLN(UAE under fire drives EV interest)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) EVLN(USE BASIC WOODWORKING SKILLS TO CONSTRUCT YOUR VERY OWN EV)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz hybrid: hot or mild?)-Long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) Re: BugE again
by "Michael Perry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) Re: BugE again
by "Michael Perry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) ebay ac motor
by "Al" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) EVLN(DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz hybrid: hot or mild?)-Long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN('MORE TH>N' EV insurance discount)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
14) EVLN(Lotus EVE Hybrid)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
15) EVLN(CAS Develops Modular Economical Hybrid Drive Components)-long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Companies go green to reduce planet imperiling emissions)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070305005640&newsLang=en
March 05, 2007 08:20 AM Eastern Time
General Electric Tops FORTUNEs 25th Annual List of Americas
Most Admired Companies for Second Consecutive Year
Fresh Ideas and Green Initiatives Distinguish the Leading
Companies on FORTUNEs Report Card of Corporate Reputations
[...]
FORTUNE senior writer Anne Fisher writes in her introduction to
the list, In 1982, the year of the first FORTUNE survey of
corporate reputations, green was just the color of money. These
days green means something more.
[...]
In her article, Fisher notes that while eco-friendliness was
hardly a priority in 1982 when the list debuted, it has become a
common thread among the companies on the list today. The handful
of companies that have consistently won the applause of their
peers over this quarter-century have adapted to the changing
environment in ways that Darwin never dreamed of, and they plan
to keep it up.
As even the Bush administration reluctantly acknowledges that
hydrocarbon emissions may be imperiling the planet, many of the
Most Admired Companies are busy figuring out ways to think green
and garner more greenbacks too.
United Parcel Service (No. 16) has a fleet of about 1,550
alternative-fuel delivery trucks, including 50 new-generation
hybrid-electric vehicles that will cut fuel consumption by 44,000
gallons a year. Goldman Sachs, No. 11 on our list, plans to sink
$1 billion into clean-energy investments.
[...]
Contacts FORTUNE Carmine N. Tiso, 212-522-8129
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or Erin Clinton, 212-522-4071
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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It's here! Your new message!
Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar.
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Chinese Scientists: Make Way for EVs)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?newsID=7923
Chinese Scientists Make Future Energy Suggestions
After comprehensive studies, a panel of CAS Academic Divisions
recently made advice on the long- and medium-term development
strategy for energy sources that can supplement or substitute
petroleum in China.
The report gauges the future development trends of energy sources
both in China and the world, making forecasts on the availability
of petroleum resources, their demand, and production capacities
from 2020 to 2050. It consists of two parts, on supplementation
and substitution of petroleum fuel and on improvement and
substitution of the power systems of transport vehicles,
respectively.
[...]
First of all, positive efforts should be made to promote the
adoption of new power systems for the automobiles, which are good
at energy saving and diversified for energy sources. Priority
should be given to electrified power systems with zero discharge
of exhaustive gases. There is the need to vigorously carry out
the research and development of highly efficient, low-cost
systems of [...] lithium ion batteries. The key issues
in the application of electric vehicles and its early
industrialization lie in the solution to the problems of electric
power supply [...] on vehicles. To this end,
resources should be pooled to remove the technological
bottlenecks such as short service life, high production costs,
poor reliability and performance of such systems. Meanwhile,
feasibility studies and large-scale demonstration projects should
be conducted on such infrastructure facilities as [...]
electric vehicle charging stations so as to
speed up the industrial development of [...] lithium ion
batteries.
Secondly, electrified rail transportation should be developed in
a big way. Railway electrification and increased speed of
passenger trains are the way of ensuring the dominant position of
railways in the communication and transport industry. More
efforts should be made to develop urban rail transit systems,
with a view to effectively curbing the rapidly increasing number
of automobiles used in cities and reduce the per vehicle
consumption of oil.
[...]
http://english.cas.ac.cn/ Posted 6th March 2007
[...] AZoM.com Pty.Ltd Copyright © 2000-2007
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finding fabulous fares is fun.
Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel
bargains.
http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097
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Hey all
This isn't super on topic but I like a nice story
EVery once in a while, kind of puts a face on fellow
members. Kind of like talking with James Massey the
other day, it just added personality for me. Anyway I
thought you might like a look at my day and hooking up
with Wayland...
It started off with me getting up late, I haven't used
an alarm clock for as long as I can remember.
I fired up some coffee and went to check my email.
My wife Amy had woke and came in to the room saying "I
thought you were making a motor run today?" I growled
back that I hoped she didn't mind if I had a cup of
coffee first, errr.
Now I hate Friday runs, worst day I could do it but I
had to go 8^( I loaded up at the shop and super nuked
my second cup of coffee because I left my new plug in
cup cord at the house, Eerrr!
Anyway getting on to Johnny boy, he and I try and at
least to hookup and have a little BS session when
we're on each others side of the mountain. He gets all
hurt if I don't EVen though he'll call and say "hey
I'm blowing by your shop, wave", lmao!
I knew he'd be rubbing the whole car show in my face
also (not to mention I was running late) so I was
kinda hoping he'd be busy, then I could make him feel
bad, hehe. I actually had to stop where John works
today so I shot him the call. I was about 10 minutes
away and he said great I'll be there in 5 (damn) and
this was about noon it seems to me.
We heckeled each other while we were both conducting
business that we had in the parts department, usual
Plasmaboy / Motor Dork stuff and I let him kick me in
the butt for not going to the show. I told him I
know, I'm 45 and can't tell mom no, yeah like he'd
tell his greek motor no, and have his ear removed,
LMAO!!! So I don't want to hear it Wayland!
We were wrapping it up when a call came in to John. A
new account had taken a motor apart and needed John to
come by cause they needed help, lol. John looks at me
and says you better come with me... Shreck and Donkey
off on another worldwind adventure, lol.
To be honest I didn't want to, the only thing John
does fast is the 1/4 mile, LMAO!! It was already past
noon and I hadn't even finished my run yet. I didn't
care about a new account, I doubted there would be
anything I could do for the guy on the spot, I did
care about what I'd miss if I didn't go...
Okay now follow me here, we don't get to go straight
there, I have to meet John at another account first.
After waiting 15 minutes for John to get there he
directs his newest flunky on how to do his job, lol.
I did happen to notice that one jack motor needed a
brush change and noted that to John who then passed
the buck to his slave.
So far this trips been a bust, nothing I've been
hoping for. Well when we get to the place I see it's
Boyds coffee. I love coffee, and I was thinking that
I'd made a wise choice 8^) Now this place was like
willie wanka in the coffee factory, hehehe. Get a
caffine buzz just walking into a place like this, God
it smelt goood! It wasn't just the smell, this place
place was pimp, I mean their sign in book was nicer
than my wedding one lmao!
Anyway we passed what seemed like an endless
boardrooms (every one jammed with carafe's) and
finally to the shop. The motor was an ADC with a
broken brush holder and the guy had pulled everything
off but needed John to pull the motor and then replace
it with a new one on Monday. John was going on and on
about what they had to pull it with and whether he
needed to get another mechanic there to help lift it
out.
I started looking at another motor the guy had taken
apart and saw something he needed to fix so I'd droned
them out. When I got back to them John was promising
that he'd be back later to pull the motor.
Now I'm a jump in kinda guy so I asked John if he
wanted me to just yank it real quick? Heck it's only
about 120 lbs and it sits comm end up. He looks at me
all smart and says yeah go ahead!
Okay now I'm thinking there's something he's not
telling me (hey I'm a motor guy not a forklift guy,
lol). Seeing his smirk, I say yeah pull the bolts out
first! He says they are out! Now I don't know about
the rest of you but I didn't see why there'd be a need
to come back, LMAO! I curtsee'd John to get the hell
out of my way. I grabbed the motor and heaved it
sideways to break the silicon seal loose from a 13" DE
plate and lifted it out, about that quick, LMAO!
Well 'ol Waylands eyes plain bugged right out of his
head @@. I don't know if he didn't think I could do
it, or maybe he's been charging 3 hours for this and I
just shut him down, or that he didn't mark how the
motor was supposed to go back in. I do know he was
scrambling to look for marks in the silicon, hehehe!
He mumbled something about how he used to do this but
now he was old and his back hurts, and blah blah. I
think he just didn't want to get his fingernails dirty
8^o
Anyway as we were leaving the guy took my number and
offered me a donut. Seeing that I'd just saved this
guy 3 hours labor I told him I was gonna be greedy and
take two (Kripy Kreams, ohh) No, it doesn't take much
to please me, lol! I don't know whay John got a donut
he didn't do anything!
On our way out we stopped at the breakroom, OMG!
They not only had all the coffee you could want they
had a two flavor slushy machine! I quickly grabbed a
cup and John and I chatted while he ate his donut
outside.
As for me I finished my run and headed back over the
mountain for a rainy long trip back home. As I started
up the mountain I threw my donuts on the defroster and
cranked that puppy up and had what seemed like a fresh
from the oven, melt in your mouth, Hi-Torque sugar
rush! and I had a fine cup of coffee to go with it 8^)
I could have pow'd through another 10 though, next
time I'm taken the whole box.
Anyway I guess the point to this story is I've never
seen John actually work, he just runs around coffee
palaces and drinks coffee and stuffs his donut hole,
it's just not fair. Anyway today kind of put a face
on it for me. John will call me, "hey, I pulled a
motor for you" Yeah "he" pulled it, is what I'm gonna
be thinking from now on, hehehe.
Anyway it's always something extreem with Wayland,
today it was coffee. If nothing else it's kind of fun
to just follow him around and vaccuum up his table
scraps, although my back kind of hurts now, LMAO!!
I felt this was a fun story and wanted to share it,
you know I'm starting to wonder if John was just
heading to work at noon when I showed up 8^P
Had fun, wishing you all a great weekend from a long
work week (we don't all have cushy jobs like John,
hehehe)
Cya
Jim Husted
Hi-Torque Electric
____________________________________________________________________________________
Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast
with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather
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--- Begin Message ---
A friend of mine asked me to look into replacing the batteries in
their (imported) 1st Gen Toyota Prius. It's a 1998 model so it makes
sense that the NiMHs would be feeling a bit tired. Has anyone been
through this process? Any advice to share with me?
The batteries in the Gen I's are just 240x D-cell NiMHs, should be
straight forward enough to replace, but you never know.. So far I've
got the pack out and taken the lid off - here's what they look like
inside FYI: http://sigmunky.com/prius/
-Ian
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(EVs obsolete after electric ICE starter was introduced)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=30158
Barbados stands to benefit from renewable energy=
Web Posted - Mon Mar 05 2007 By Nicholas Cox
I ONLY recently learned that electric cars were popular early in
the last century, outselling vehicles with internal combustion
engines during that time period, and boasting greater energy
efficiency.
Unfortunately, these electric cars, officially called battery
electric vehicles (BEVs), became obsolete after the electric
starter was introduced in favour of internal combustion engines.
My interest in BEVs was piqued last week because of a headline on
television describing an electric car with better performance
than a Ferrari or a Porsche.
The story featured the Telsa Roadster, a 100 per cent electric
vehicle, which can reach 0 to 60 in about four seconds, and uses
the equivalent of 135 miles per gallon, with 250 miles per
charge. When it was over, all I could think was I want one!
I had no idea that technology had advanced to a level that
allowed for electric cars to be that efficient. It is significant
because the production of an electric car with this level of
performance means that consumers could charge the batteries for
their vehicles through renewable sources, like solar energy.
According to the web site Wikipedia, BEVs reduce dependence on
petroleum, may mitigate global warming by alleviating the
greenhouse effect, are quieter than internal combustion vehicles,
and do not produce noxious fumes.
This technology could have a huge impact on countries like
Barbados which, as far as we know at present, lacks significant
petroleum reserves, and has over 100 000 vehicles on its roads.
Coupled with proposals like the Draft National Energy Policy,
which suggests that consumers could contribute to the energy grid
of the Barbados Light and Power by generating renewable energy at
their homes, this means that in the not so distant future this
country could potentially drastically reduce its dependence on
fossil fuels.
[...]
Clearly, Barbados and the Caribbean stand to benefit both
environmentally and economically from advances in renewable
energy technology. Efforts are therefore needed to make the
public more aware and interested. To this end, I applaud the
national consultations on the Draft Barbados National Energy
Policy. I support any effort that will reduce the impact on the
environment of the vehicles on which we rely so heavily, and that
can also help Barbados earn foreign exchange in a holistic
manner.
Barbados Advocate ©2000
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finding fabulous fares is fun.
Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel
bargains.
http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(UAE under fire drives EV interest)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8905:biofuel-cars-may-launch-in-uae&Itemid=72
Biofuel cars may launch in UAE
by Safura Rahimi on Monday, 05 March 2007
[...]
Other UAE companies are also in a drive for cleaner road and
vehicles.
Electric cars may soon be heading to Abu Dhabi if negotiations
between investment company Mubadala and the Baynuna Group go as
planned, as ArabianBusiness.com reported last month. A deal
signed with French company Dassault will export 10,000 advanced
electric cars that operate on clean power with a speed of 160
km/h to the emirate.
The news comes as the UAE is under fire for its environmental
record. Last month the UN warned the UAE for its rising pollution
problem, saying the country must do more to protect the
environment or face an escalating number of pollution-related
illnesses.
© 2007 ITP Digital
===
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/02/20/10105544.html
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8223
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(USE BASIC WOODWORKING SKILLS TO CONSTRUCT YOUR VERY OWN EV)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070305005564&newsLang=en
March 05, 2007 06:26 AM Eastern Time
Jeffrey Automotive Introduces Brand New Plan for a DIY Electric
Car
Plans Are for a DIY Electric Car That Can Be Built in the Garage
or Workshop Using Basic Woodworking and Engineering Skills
CORNWALL, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jeffrey Automotive is
proud to introduce plans for a build-it-yourself, electric car.
The car can be built for $5,000 or cheaper, with running costs of
less than 3 cents a mile and no garage service bills. An
excellent vehicle for doing the shopping, commuting to work or
just for plain fun, all this, and drivers will be helping the
environment in the bargain.
The vehicle is a two-seater, powered by a 72volt DC motor with an
anticipated top speed of 60 mph and a range of 50/60 miles on one
charge from six 12v deep cycle lead/acid batteries.
The plans and the instruction manual are extremely detailed with
photographs and drawings throughout to help the builder at every
stage of construction. Further help and back-up is available
through the web site.
The car was designed to meet the growing demand from drivers
concerned about global warming who are looking for a
fossil-fuel-free, environmentally-friendly vehicle that doesn't
cost the earth.
George Jeffrey was well known back in the 70s as a designer and
builder of sports and racing cars in Britain. The best known was
the J5, a two-seater, open-top sports car, described by the press
as a curvaceous driver's car.
For additional information contact George Jeffrey or visit
www.electric-cars-plans.com.
Contacts Jeffrey Automotive George Jeffrey, +44(0)1579345255
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.electric-cars-plans.com
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz hybrid: hot or mild?)-Long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.greenoptions.com/blog/2007/03/06/bmw_and_daimlerchrysler_enter_the_hybrid_race
Filed on Mar 6, 2007 at 5:59 AM PST By Maria Surma Manka
BMW and DaimlerChrysler are teaming up to develop hybrid
transmission systems for rear-wheel-drive premium cars.
These transmission systems will be for so-called mild hybrids,
which boost acceleration and can make engines work more
efficiently in stop-and-go traffic, but cant run on battery
power alone and dont offer the same fuel savings as a full
hybrid (like a Toyota Prius, which connects an electric motor and
batteries to a standard combustion engine.). The carmakers should
have the mild hybrid vehicles ready for the road in the next 3
years.
The hybrid move by German automakers has surprised some
analyists. BMW and DaimlerChrysler have dismissed hybrids as a
passing fad, but the popularity of vehicles like the Prius and
the increasing concerns about global warming have them rethinking
earlier assumptions. They even see full hybrids are on the
horizon: Daimler's Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch a full
hybrid vehicle within a year or so and BMW plans a full hybrid
within three years.
CNNMoney.com
===
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-03-06T154339Z_01_FAB012843_RTRIDST_0_AUTOS-SHOW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER-URGENT.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna
GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes brand will
launch its first hybrid car in two years, its head of group
research said on Tuesday.
"In 2009 we will have the first Mercedes-branded hybrid on the
market," Thomas Weber told reporters at the Geneva auto show.
He left open whether it would be a full hybrid or a mild hybrid.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
===
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-03-06T173313Z_01_L06567979_RTRIDST_0_AUTOSHOW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER-UPDATE-1.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna
GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz brand
will launch its first hybrid car in two years, its head of group
research said on Tuesday, setting a date for the first time.
"In 2009 we will have the first Mercedes-branded hybrid on the
market," Thomas Weber, who is also head of development for the
premium division Mercedes Car Group, told reporters at the Geneva
auto show.
He would not identify which Mercedes model would get the
technology and left open whether it would be a full hybrid or a
"mild hybrid".
The world's fifth-biggest carmaker is in a three-way alliance
with General Motors Corp and BMW to develop "full" hybrids that
link an electric motor and batteries to a standard combustion
engine.
It is working separately with BMW on mild hybrids for
rear-wheel-drive premium cars.
A mild hybrid can boost acceleration and make engines work more
efficiently in stop-and-go traffic. It costs less than a full
hybrid, which can cut fuel consumption by a fifth but adds
thousands to the price of a car.
But mild hybrids do not offer the same fuel savings as a full
hybrid and cannot run on battery power alone.
GM is set to start selling full-sized sport utility vehicles with
full hybrid technology late this year, followed in 2008 by Dodge
Durango full-sized SUVs and then a range of other models.
The mild hybrid accord with BMW announced this month envisioned
having the technology roll out within three years.
Weber said the two teams were competing, and the market would
decide whether the first Mercedes hybrid would be a full or a
mild one. "These two launches are close," he said.
Japanese carmakers Toyota Motor and Honda Motor Co Ltd are the
leaders in hybrids, but European carmakers are also eyeing the
technology as a way to help cut fuel consumption and emissions of
carbon dioxide.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast
with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather
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--- Begin Message ---
Jerry... a good post. I've met him before and he's sort of a hobbyist at
this sort of thing. Considering the sales potential of this sort of vehicle,
that's a good place to be in. He's had some great successes in the past,
including designing a bicycle trailer for a local company (probably the best
financial success) some years ago.
I get the impression this kit isn't a lot different than his popular
Electrathon kit... except you can (optionally) order a lighting and/or power
component package. I figure the total cost for a rolling "auto" will be a
bit over $5K.
At first that seems a high price for the E-quivilent of a 125cc MC... but
not so far out of line when you look at 3 wheel bicycles. I certainly think
it'll be a unique vehicle, but he doesn't plan on shipping many of them...
perhaps one a month. That's sort of in line with his Electrathon shipments.
I'm told that this rig is about as difficult to assemble as one of those
kits, and those kits are assembled by HS students.
BTW, the increase in initial price isn't totally out of line, and has
happened on every unique vehicle I've seen. I would guess that price for
these vehicles will go up with time as his suppliers find they aren't making
enough money for components. Fortunately his track record is reliable and he
seldom sponsors a design that doesn't stick around for a while.
I'm hoping he'll have local demos of the rig. From the specs, I'm assuming
the ride will be similar to that of some of the odd rigs (3 wheel power
bikes and/or Electrathon) I've driven in the past. I've been waiting to see
one of his Electrathons in a street worthy condition, after I decided the
body of those would not be practical for every day use.
> >What got my attention was the original kit cost estimate of
> >$3000, but then I added up the replacement parts costs on
> >the order form and it was over $3000 without any of the
> >drive components!
>
> And you expected different? Dealing with parts at a
> time and a whole unit is a completely different cost
> structure. Where one is 1 customer at 1 time where parts
> means many transactions at a much greater labor, inventory
> involved. It's the difference between retail and wholesale.
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--- Begin Message ---
> What got my attention was the original kit cost estimate of $3000, but
then
> I added up the replacement parts costs on the order form and it was over
> $3000 without any of the drive components! It is realistic, but
unfortunate
> because that difference in cost will likely discourage many buyers. Any
more
> than $5000 and I would more likely take the plunge for a full-on
conversion.
>
> It really looks like a fun vehicle though, thanks for the links.
>
> Dave O.
Yeah, I know what you mean. $5K for a toy is a bit steep, but it looks like
it may be a useful toy. I do like the way he breaks out the components, so a
person can use his parts or go with their own.
BTW, I'm hoping he used the same plastics expert that he used for other
projects.
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The motor on ebay is a 1PV5133.
The controller screenshot on metricmind shows a 1PV5133.
I would imagine the Simovert would work with the Ford motor.
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz hybrid: hot or mild?)-Long
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.greenoptions.com/blog/2007/03/06/bmw_and_daimlerchrysler_enter_the_hybrid_race
Filed on Mar 6, 2007 at 5:59 AM PST By Maria Surma Manka
BMW and DaimlerChrysler are teaming up to develop hybrid
transmission systems for rear-wheel-drive premium cars.
These transmission systems will be for so-called mild hybrids,
which boost acceleration and can make engines work more
efficiently in stop-and-go traffic, but cant run on battery
power alone and dont offer the same fuel savings as a full
hybrid (like a Toyota Prius, which connects an electric motor and
batteries to a standard combustion engine.). The carmakers should
have the mild hybrid vehicles ready for the road in the next 3
years.
The hybrid move by German automakers has surprised some
analyists. BMW and DaimlerChrysler have dismissed hybrids as a
passing fad, but the popularity of vehicles like the Prius and
the increasing concerns about global warming have them rethinking
earlier assumptions. They even see full hybrids are on the
horizon: Daimler's Mercedes-Benz is expected to launch a full
hybrid vehicle within a year or so and BMW plans a full hybrid
within three years.
CNNMoney.com
===
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-03-06T154339Z_01_FAB012843_RTRIDST_0_AUTOS-SHOW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER-URGENT.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna
GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes brand will
launch its first hybrid car in two years, its head of group
research said on Tuesday.
"In 2009 we will have the first Mercedes-branded hybrid on the
market," Thomas Weber told reporters at the Geneva auto show.
He left open whether it would be a full hybrid or a mild hybrid.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
===
http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-03-06T173313Z_01_L06567979_RTRIDST_0_AUTOSHOW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER-UPDATE-1.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna
GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz brand
will launch its first hybrid car in two years, its head of group
research said on Tuesday, setting a date for the first time.
"In 2009 we will have the first Mercedes-branded hybrid on the
market," Thomas Weber, who is also head of development for the
premium division Mercedes Car Group, told reporters at the Geneva
auto show.
He would not identify which Mercedes model would get the
technology and left open whether it would be a full hybrid or a
"mild hybrid".
The world's fifth-biggest carmaker is in a three-way alliance
with General Motors Corp and BMW to develop "full" hybrids that
link an electric motor and batteries to a standard combustion
engine.
It is working separately with BMW on mild hybrids for
rear-wheel-drive premium cars.
A mild hybrid can boost acceleration and make engines work more
efficiently in stop-and-go traffic. It costs less than a full
hybrid, which can cut fuel consumption by a fifth but adds
thousands to the price of a car.
But mild hybrids do not offer the same fuel savings as a full
hybrid and cannot run on battery power alone.
GM is set to start selling full-sized sport utility vehicles with
full hybrid technology late this year, followed in 2008 by Dodge
Durango full-sized SUVs and then a range of other models.
The mild hybrid accord with BMW announced this month envisioned
having the technology roll out within three years.
Weber said the two teams were competing, and the market would
decide whether the first Mercedes hybrid would be a full or a
mild one. "These two launches are close," he said.
Japanese carmakers Toyota Motor and Honda Motor Co Ltd are the
leaders in hybrids, but European carmakers are also eyeing the
technology as a way to help cut fuel consumption and emissions of
carbon dioxide.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN('MORE TH>N' EV insurance discount)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.easier.com/view/Finance/Insurance/Car/article-103154.html
More Th>n extends eco-car discount to all alternative fuel vehicles
5 March 2007
Eco-motorists who own alternative fuel vehicles can now benefit
from a discount of up to 15 per cent off their motor insurance.
In a further move to reward environmentally-friendly driving,
MORE TH>N insurance today announced that it has reduced premiums
for both new and existing customers who drive manufactured or
professionally converted LPG vehicles, bi-fuel, FFV, biopower,
dual-fuel and electric cars.
MORE TH>N was the first insurer to introduce an insurance
discount for hybrid vehicles, in May 2006. Since then it has seen
a steady increase in its number of hybrid car policies, signaling
that eco-motoring is indeed an emerging market.
As well as MORE TH>Ns insurance discount, eco-motorists also
benefit from a reduction in car tax announced in the 2006 budget,
and exemption from the congestion charge in central London. Last
week the congestion charge zone doubled in size to cover many
western parts of the central city.
With petrol prices approaching £1 per litre in some parts of
Britain research from MORE TH>N reveals that 80 per cent of
drivers are concerned about fuel prices, and more than a third
(36 per cent) are consciously trying to economise by limiting use
of their vehicle to essential journeys only, and using public
transport more often.
Aside from reducing the dent in their pockets, four in ten
motorists say they would consider switching to a more
eco-friendly vehicle for the environmental benefits. Almost half
(48 per cent) of the motorists surveyed said they were seriously
concerned about the impact that full petrol cars have on the
environment.
New vehicle registrations for alternative fuel vehicles increased
by 51 per cent between 2005 and 2006.
Mike Holliday-Williams, managing director of MORE TH>N, says:
The launch of our eco-car discount for all alternative fuel
vehicles is another way were encouraging our customers to go
green. In December 2006 MORE TH>N and our parent company Royal &
SunAlliance became the first UK insurer to go carbon neutral, and
were encouraging customers to do their bit for the environment
by incentivising and rewarding green behaviour.
Copyright © 2004-2007 Easier Media Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
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We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love
(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.
http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265
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EVLN(Lotus EVE Hybrid)
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informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_26fe44f4-cb73c03a-135da430-1c519947
06-03-2007: Lotus to unveil hybrid technology
By Kevin Tan Email us your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Proton Holdings Bhds subsidiary Lotus Engineering will be
unveiling its latest hybrid car technology during the 77th Geneva
International Motor Show.
In a statement on March 6, Proton said the new technology was
named EVE Hybrid, which stands for efficient, viable and
environmental.
It added that Lotus believed it would be more viable to integrate
hybrid technologies into existing cars than to develop expensive
new dedicated hybrid platforms.
Solutions that Lotus Engineering can provide to its OEM clients
will help them keep price premiums for hybrid variants at a
minimum, thanks to lower development costs and are available
immediately for introduction within current and next generation
model lifecycles, Proton said.
For demonstration purposes during the motor show in Geneva, Lotus
has fitted the new technology into a Proton Gen.2.
With the hybrid technology, Proton Gen.2 tailpipe emissions are
reduced by 22% from 172g/km to 134g/km, while fuel economy has
improved by 28% from 39.2mpg to 50.2mpg.
The technology was aiming to provide a viable business case
proposition for its OEM clients to offer a hybrid variant of a
medium-high volume production car, Proton said.
===
http://forums.thecarlounge.net/zerothread?id=3110792&postid=36499280
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast
with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(CAS Develops Modular Economical Hybrid Drive Components)-long
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http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-06-2007/0004540440&EDATE=
Continental Automotive Systems Develops Modular Components for
Economical Hybrid Drives
The concept of a flexible modular system of power electronics is
being expanded
Surveys show that one in four Germans is considering buying a car
with hybrid drive
FRANKFURT, Germany and GENEVA, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With its
modular concept for power electronics, Automotive Systems, a
division of automotive supplier Continental AG, creates synergies
between hybrid drive systems for different power classes. This
particular component concept will allow the automotive industry
to rapidly bring to market hybrid vehicles of different sizes and
power ratings at an attractive cost. Interest in hybrid drives is
growing not just in North America and Asia, but in Europe as
well; one in four German drivers surveyed recently by Continental
in a sample, said they were considering buying a hybrid car.
Scaleable complete design solutions: one-stop hybrid drive
technology
More and more vehicle manufacturers see hybrid drives as the
answer to increasingly stringent emissions legislation
world-wide, rising fuel costs and customer demand for greater
vehicle dynamics and comfort while conserving resources. The
demand for hybrid drive systems across a broad spread of power
ratings and also for electric drives in plugin hybrid vehicles,
electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles is growing rapidly.
"With our new component concept, we shall be better equipped than
ever before to satisfy this development. We can meet the widest
possible range of customer specifications with power ratings from
6 to more than 150 kW," explained Karlheinz Haupt, Head of
Continental Automotive Systems Electric Drives business unit.
Continental Automotive Systems, in cooperation with its strategic
partner, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, is stepping up the development,
production and marketing of hybrid drive systems and components.
These complete design solutions, scaleable for different vehicle
layouts and sizes, consist of the energy storage unit, energy
storage management and all the electromechanical elements for the
various power classes. Standardizing these components and
combining them flexibly produces quality advantages, shortens car
manufacturers' development times and minimizes the cost of
implementing new projects. The benefits of large production
volumes reduce costs still further.
The inverter at the hybrid drive's heart represents the power
electronics
A hybrid drive consists of an electric motor, a high-performance
battery, an additional voltage converter and the power
electronics. The electric motor replaces the starter and the
alternator. It acts both as an electric drive system and as a
generator for energy recovery the engine drag torque mode
("recuperation"). The recovered energy is temporarily stored in
the battery, which then releases it either for subsequent
acceleration (boost) or for purely electrical driving. Following
very positive results, Continental Automotive Systems is
concentrating on lithium-ion technology for the energy storage
unit. The additional voltage converter powers the 14V vehicle
power supply. It can either be integrated into the power
electronics or installed separately.
The power electronics are the heart of any hybrid drive, acting
as an inverter, controlling the flow of energy between the
electric motor and the battery. Depending on the voltage level
and the current, it is a defining factor for the performance of
the whole system. The special Continental Automotive Systems
power electronics modular system is based on the company's years
of experience as a series production supplier. Solutions can be
provided for high voltage and currents, and components for
applications using less than 60V. Depending on the power
generated, the electronics are either water or air-cooled.
Hybrid system designs: from start-stop to purely electric driving
mode
Hybrid systems can be divided up into purely start-stop systems,
mild hybrid systems for additional boost and recuperation, and
full hybrid systems. A purely electric driving mode is also
possible with the latter. In a parallel full hybrid the electric
motor may be placed between the internal combustion engine and
the transmission. A second clutch allows the internal combustion
engine to be disconnected in the "electric driving" and
"recuperation" modes. When accelerating, the internal combustion
engine and the electric motor work together.
When braking or decelerating, part of the braking energy is fed
back into the battery ("recuperation"). In addition, the internal
combustion engine can be switched off when decelerating or at a
standstill ("automatic start-stop"). Particularly in urban
traffic, where speeding up and slowing down is often interspersed
with long periods of idling, the hybrid drive demonstrates great
savings potential. By positioning the electric motor on the rear
axle for example, the hybrid system can in effect convert an
essentially front-wheel drive vehicle into a four-wheel drive
vehicle.
Tangible added value: lower consumption with improved drive
dynamics
Fuel consumption savings of 25% and more are possible with the
full hybrid system's start-stop mode, recuperation, brake energy
regeneration and purely electric driving mode. In addition, the
combination of internal combustion engine and electric motor
produce significant drive dynamic benefits. "At typical medium
engine speeds, the internal combustion engine produces high
torque, ideally complementing the electric motor which develops
its maximum torque at lower engine speeds. More than 400Nm are
achievable, which corresponds to the power of a good 4-liter
gasoline engine", is how Karlheinz Haupt regards the gain in
drive dynamics. These aspects of the hybrid drive provide the
motorist with tangible added value. Taking both emission and
fuel consumption reductions and improved drive dynamics into
account, the overall balance is clearly in favor of the hybrid
drive.
Continental survey in Germany: increasing interest in an
affordable hybrid
"International market studies forecast rapid growth, reaching two
million and more hybrid cars each year after 2012. Together with
our partner ZF Friedrichshafen AG, we shall be part of this boom,
because we can offer one-stop complete design solutions including
electric brakes and software integration," announced Dr.
Karl-Thomas Neumann, chairman of the Continental Automotive
Systems Board and member of the Continental AG Executive Board.
He quoted the results of a representative survey of 1,000 German
motorists carried out by tns/infratest for Continental AG at the
end of last year, according to which one in four of those
questioned is considering buying a hybrid car; every other
motorist would accept a price mark-up of a good euro 2,800 if the
car had lower fuel consumption and better acceleration. Dr.
Neumann's comment on these figures: "The market is there and it's
growing daily. We are offering the right products at the right
time."
The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of
brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and
technical elastomers. In 2006 the corporation realized sales of
euro 14.9 billion. At present it has a worldwide workforce of
around 85,000.
As a worldwide leading technology partner to the automotive
industry, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG
integrates extensive know-how and uncompromising quality in the
fields of driving safety, embedded telematics and hands-free
communication systems, powertrain and comfort. In 2006 the
Division achieved sales of approximately euro 6 billion with a
workforce of more than 30,000. Continental Automotive Systems
develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability
and chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems,
sensors, engine management and transmission control systems,
hybrid drives, cooling fan modules, body and security electronics
and also is the industry leader of embedded telematics and
communication systems in vehicles.
SOURCE Continental AG Copyright © 1996-2007 PR Newswire
Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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